SUMMARY
- Despite Alex Pereira's unquestionable ability as a fighter, his record as a cornerman has been much refuted.
- Pereira was rumored to be in attendance for UFC 297 in support of Sean Strickland.
Alex Pereira has quickly become one of the most renowned and influential names in the sport of MMA. Following his meteoric rise to the top and double-champ status, he is widely respected by many. However, despite his unquestionable ability as a fighter, Pereira’s record as a cornerman has been much refuted.
Recently, ‘Poatan‘ was rumored to be in attendance for UFC 297 in support of Sean Strickland. As it turns out, Pereira was not just there to provide support but also to be a cornerman for his former foe-turned-friend. Following their fight at UFC 276, both of them started training together, which resulted in a career resurgence for Strickland. Notably, it also saw him best Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 last year.
Sean Strickland has Alex Pereira in his corner! 👀#UFC297 | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+pic.twitter.com/Z2E2ZKflgG
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) January 21, 2024
Thus, expectations were high for the former champ to once again motivate and inspire his training partner to victory. Unfortunately, on the night, Strickland narrowly fell short of the mark, losing a split decision to Dricus du Plessis. Despite a very intense five-round back and forth, Sean was left dismayed after his opponent got the nod.
For the most part, the decision was very controversial and surprising, with many, including Dana White, scoring the fight in favor of the former champion. Interestingly, some fans even pointed to a conspiracy theory against Strickland. All things considered, it was a rather unfruitful evening for Pereira and Strickland.
Is the Alex Pereira cornerman curse real?
Shortly after Sean Strickland’s loss, there were many theories as to why the decision went against him. The common consensus was that Strickland had won rounds 1, 2, and 5. As such, many came up with reasons that could have led to him not getting the decision. Whilst some suggested his media day tirade against reporter Alexander K. Lee, others suggested that the UFC did not want him as a champion.
Storylines aside, many also blamed the Drake curse after he allegedly put up $700,000 for Strickland to win. At the same time, many have also pointed out the fact that Alex Pereira has had a history of being on the losing side as a cornerman. Taking to social media, fans found out that the Brazilian is 0-4 as a cornerman for fighters in the UFC.
Notably, aside from cornering Strickland, Pereira was also present alongside Glover Teixeira when he lost to Jamahal Hill at UFC 283. Not only that, the Instagram user also pointed out how Alex cornered Wellington Turman during his loss to Jared Gooden last year. Interestingly, the Brazilian was also in the corner of Anderson Silva when he lost to Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision at UFC 234.
Thus, it has been suggested that Pereira is winless as a cornerman, which is seemingly becoming a curse. However, that may not be true, as Alex was also present alongside Teixeira when he fought Thiago Santos in 2020. On the night, Teixeira secured a submission victory over his opponent. Thus, whilst the rumor may have been debunked, Pereira’s record as a cornerman is not one to be proud of.